Bank’s closure ‘has hit trade’ (From Cotswold Journal)

Bank’s closure ‘has hit trade’

9:00am Saturday 26th January 2013 in News

A CONCERNED councillor in Chipping Campden said he fears business has suffered since the closure of the town’s HSBC branch.

The bank shut its doors on November 30 after a significant fall in customer numbers over the last few years.

HSBC’s cashpoint in the Square – the only one in the town – is still in active use but could also be shut if a new location cannot be found.

Customers have been travelling to their nearest branches in Broadway or Moreton – up to eight miles away – to withdraw money since the closure.

Town councillor Michael Haines said since the bank closed its doors in November, businesses have been finding it tough.

“The cash machine is still there at the moment but it’s just running out of money all the time,” he said. “I think businesses are already finding it hard.

“They come in to cash their cheques or go into the hole in the wall. The foreign tourists in particular want to get some currency and it isn’t always easy.

“The impression I’ve got from what other people have said is we are already seeing a downturn.

I hope that somebody can get a machine into the town.

“The bank closing is a total disregard for existing customers and not what I expected from an organisation of that standing.”

Suman Hughes, media relations and planning manager at HSBC, said: “Our investigations are ongoing into the cash machine in Chipping Campden and we are still committed to leaving this provided we can find a suitable location and are granted the necessary permissions.

“We will try to keep it there as long as possible so that residents are not left without a cash machine.”